Apparatus for cooling and dispensing liquids.



W. H. WALTER. APPARATUS FOR COOLING AND DISPENSING LIQUIDS. APPLIUATLON FILED 1120.18, 1908.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

Patented May 9, 1911.

W. H. WALTER.

APPARATUS POR COOLING' AND DISPENSING LIQUIDS. APPLIUATION FILED DBO. 18, 1908.

991,568, Y Patented May 9,1911.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

f i5 j ED STATES FFICE.

WILLIAM H. WALTER, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR TO O'IIS W. HINCKLEY AND GEORGE J'. SCHMITT, BOTH 0F CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

AEPARAT'US FOR COOLING AND DISPENSING" LIQUIDS.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented May 9, 1911,

Application led December 18, 1908. Serial No. 468,127. n f

To' all whom 'it may con-cem:

Be it known that I, WILLIAM H. WALTER, a citizen of the United States, and a resident' of. Chicago, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, have invented certain new..and useful Improvements in Apparatus for Cooling and Dispensing Liquids; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full, .clear, and exact description thereof, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and to the letters of reference marked thereon, which form a part of this specification.

This invention relates to apparatus for dispensing beverages, and more especially to that class of such apparatus embracing a supply vessel or bottle in which the water or other` liquid is contained and from which it is drawn, and means for cooling the liquid before delivery from the apparatus.

The invention kconsists in the matters hereinafter set forth and pointed out in the appended claims.

In the accompanying drawings which illustrate one practical embodiment of my invention-Figure l is a view in central vertical section of a liquid dispensing apparatus made in accordance with my invention. Fig. 2 is a horizontal section taken upon 39 line 22 yof Fig. l. Fig. 3 is a detail section on an enlarged scale of the connections between the bottle and the cooling pipe of the apparatus. Fig. 4 is a detail section taken upon line 4;-4 of Fig. 3. Fig. 5 is a detail section corresponding with Fig. 3 but showing a modified form of the apparatus.

As shown in said drawings, A indicates a supply -vessel \or bottle which is made of glass or like material and is arranged in an 40 inverted position at the top ofy the apparatus.

B indicates the casing of a refrigerating chamber, at the top of which the vessel A is supported, and which contains a cooling pipe C through which the liquid is drawn before it is used. The refri erator casing B may be made of any usua or preferred' construction but is, as shown in the accompanying drawings, made of cylindric form and provided in its dat top wall B1 with a door B2 through which to insert the ice or the purpose of keeping' cool the cooling pipe C. The main part of said cooling pipe C is-arranged in the form of a iat horlzontal coil C1 which rests on the bottom of the `l casing B and on which the .ice directly rests. The discharge end of the said cooling pipe rises above the level of the coil C1 and extends through the side wall of the casing, terminating in a faucet C2. The bottle A is removable or detachable from the refrigerator casing and cooling pipe so that the renewal of t-he supply of liquid to the apparatus may be effected by the substitution of a filled bottle for an empty. one. The receiving end of the cooling pipe C rises centrally within the refrigerating chamber and is connected by an air tight joint with a short, fixed, upright tube D, which passes through and is secured in the top wall B1 of the casing B. As illustrated, a detachable connection is provided between the lower end of said tube D and the receiving end of the cooling pipe C, the same `consisting of a flanged andscrew-threaded sleeve '0, which engages an annular flange on the upper end of the cooling pipe and has screw-threaded connect-ion with the lower end of the said tube. The upper end of the tube D rises above the top wall B1 of the casing and is provided with an annular gasket or packing ring D1` of rubberv or like material. Said packing ring or gasket is preferably made of upwardly tapering form-on its outer surface.

E indicates a tubular connecting member which serves to afford an air tight connection between the mouth of the inverted bottle and the upper end of the said tube D. The lower portion of said tubular connecting member E is adapted to fit closely, or with an air tight fit, over the upper end of said tube D and for that purpose is provided with an interior conical surface fitting upon the gasket D1. The upper endof said connecting member E is providedwith an annular packing member or gasket E1, preferably made of rubber or like yielding material, and which is adapted to it within the mouth of the` bottle so as to form an air tight joint between the connecting member and the bottle. Said packing ring or gasket E1 is preferablyv made of upwardly tapering form on its exterior surface, so that a tight joint will be formed with the mouth of the bottle notwithstanding slight variations in the sizes of the necks of diierent bottles. Preferably the connecting member E is provided with an annular flange 'e located be- -low the gasket E1, but said flange merely forms a shoulder against which the lower edge of the gasket rests and is not essential to the operation-,o the,l device.

For the purpose of preventing the escape of liquid from the bottle when the latter is inverted to place it upon the apparatus, the

tubular connecting member E 1s provided lpermitting free' passage of liquid from the bottle through the connecting member and the tube D to the cooling pipe C. In apply- .ing the bottle to the apparatus, the connecting member E will be first inserted in the mouth of the bottle, and the bottle will then be inverted and the connecting member then placed or iitted upon the top of the tube D.

As shown and preferably constructed, the weight of the' bottle rests uponthe connecting member E and provision is madeffor holding the bottle in\ its upright position, consisting of a tubular standard Gr secured to the casing B and having at its upper end a split band or ring Grl which extends around the upper part of the bottle. Said standard Gr is shown as extending downwardly through the top wall B1 o the refrigerator casing and as secured at its lower end to the bottom wall of the casing, this construction being employed to give rigld support to said standard. Y

H indicates an/open topped cup or receptable which rests on the top wall B1 of the casing and surrounds the tube D. Said cup H is provided with a drainage assage h which leads through said top wa lB1 and opens into the interior of the refrigerator chamber. Said cup or receptacle H is for the purpose of receiving any liquid which,

may escape from the bottle in the act of placing it upon the apparatus, anyy such escaping water passing downwardly into the interior of the refrigerating chamber.

lor the purpose of supplying air to the interior of the bottle and thus permitting the liquid to flow freely therefrom, an air supply pipe l is connected with and leads laterally :trom the tube D and is extended upwardly at one side of the bottle. ln the particular construction shown, said air tube l passes horizontally outward through the*l` top wall-1 of the casing to the standard'y G and fupwardly extending part is containedrlv` in said standard. To permit' free access Fair to the upper end of the said air pipe an air inlet opening 'or passage 'e' is formed in the hollow elbow or tting G2 naine which is connected with the top of the tubular standard G and to which the supporting ring G1 isattached.

In. the operation of the apparatus made as described, when the faucet C2 is opened ln the modified form of the apparatus shown in Fig. -5 an air supply pipe .l is provided which, instead of being connected with the fixed tube D, is attached to and communicates with the interior of the con-l necting member E, so that it is removable from the apparatus with said connecting member. Said tube J will be vextended upwardly from the extending member at the side ofthe bottle to a distance reqguired to prevent the outward passage of water there- Ifrom when the bottle inverted and placed upon the apparatus.

It should be noted, .that the fixed tube D, the connecting member E andthe cooling pipe C, form a continuous, closed or tight passage or conduit from the mouth of the inverted bottle to thev discharge outlet for the liquid, so that the water cannot be contaminated in its passage from the bottle to- .the discharge outlet, and so that no water seal is necessary for closing the mouth of the' bottle. Air is admitted to the inverted bottle as the water is withdrawn therefrom through an air supply pipe, so that the water will flow readily and quietly from the conduit when the valve or faucet is opened. This supply pipe is arranged outside of the bot-tle and obviates the necessity of employing an internal air supply pipe, which might readily be soiled when 4withdrawn from vvthe bottle and thus contaminate the water .when it is inserted in a bottle containing a fresh supply.

When the improved apparatus is in operation, a 'partial vacuum is maintained in the upper part ot `the inverted bottle, and, in the preferred arrangement shown, the. water rises. in the upwardly extending air supply pipeA until the column in the pipe plus theatmospheric pressure balances the column of water in the bottle plus the reduced air pressure therein. en the valve or faucet is opened, the pressure in the bottle is reduced` and air enters the bottle through the supply pi i to Atake the place oi the liquid thatfis withawn. Utcourse this air must rst displace the water standing in the air pipe, forcing it down into the outlet conduit, before such air can gain access tok the bottle mouth; and after the faucet is closed. the water again rises in said pipe to the level determined by the difference between the then existing air pressures in the pipe and bottle.

While the preferred arrangement of the continuous closed conduit extending from the mouth of the inverted bottle to the discharge outlet of the liquid, and of the upwardly extending air supply pipe connected to the conduit and arranged outside of the bottle, are shown, and set forth in certain of the claims, these parts may be widely varied without departure from the broad scope of the invention. It should also be understood that the details of construction set forth may be varied without departure from the essentials of the invention as defined in the appended claims. I claim as my invention l. An apparatus for cooling and dispensin` liquid, comprising a casing containing a re rigerating chamber, a water bottle, a cooling pipe located within the refrigerating chamber, a fixed tube extending through the top wall of the casing and having closed connection with the receiving end of said cooling pipe, means affording a detachable,l

air-tight joint between the upper end of said fixed tube and the mouth of the bottle, and an air supply pipe on the casing which is connected with said fixed tube below the upper end thereof.

2. An apparatus for cooling and dispensv ing liquid, comprising a casing containing a refrigerating chamber, a water bottle, a cooling pipe located -within the refrigerating chamber,I a fixed tube extending through. the top wall Vof the casing and having closed connection with the receiving end of said cooling pipe, means affording an air-tight connection between the upper end of said fixed tube and the mouth of the bottle, and

an air supply pipe on the casing which is attached to 'said fixed tube below the upper end,y

of the latter and rises at its inlet end above the mouth of the bottle.

3. An apparatus for cooling and dispensin liquid, comprising a casing containing a refrigerating chamber, a water `bott-le, a cooling pipe located in the said refrigerating chamber, al fixed tube extending through the top wall ofthe casing and having closed connection with the receiving end of the cooling pipe, a tubular connecting member interposed between and having detachable airtiht connection with the upper end of said fixed tube and the mouth of the bottle, and' an air supply4 pipe connected with said fixed tube below the upper end thereof.

4. An apparatus for cooling and dispensing liquid, comprisin a casing containinga refrigerating cham er, a water bottle, a

ya refrigerating chamber, a water bott-le, a

cooling pipe located in the saidrefrigerating chamber, a fixed tube in the top wall of the casing having closed connection with the receiving end of the cooling pipe, means affording a detachable air-tight connectionv between the upper end of said fixed tube and the mouth of the bottle adapted to sustain the weight of the bottle, a tubular standard secured to and rising from the-casing and provided at its upper end with means for laterally supporting the upper end of the bottle, and an air supply pipe on the casing connected with said fixed tube below the upper end thereof, said air pipe having an upwardly extending inlet branch located in said tubular standard I 6. An apparatus for cooling and dispensing liquid, comprising a casing containing a refrigerating chamber, a water bottle, a cooling pipe located in the said refrigerating chamber, a xed tube in the top wal] of the casing having closed connectlon vvith the receiving vend of the cooling pipe, means affording a detachable air-tight lconnection between the upper end of lsaid xed tube and the mouth of the bottle adapted tosustain the weight of the bottle, a tubular standard which'passes downwardly through the top wall of the said casing and 1s se rigidly but removably in an inverted up-` right position, a closed conduit arranged withins'aid refrigerat'ing chamber and hav ing a detachable tight connection with: the mouth of the bottle, and an upwardly directed'pipe arranged exteriorly ,of the bottle and connected to said conduit for supplying air tothe inverted `bottle as the liquid is' withdrawn therefrom.

S. rhev'combination with a refrigerating chamber, of a bottle rigidly but removably supported in substantially vertical, upright position, va closed conduit extending through said chamber and having a stationary inlet end in direct tight connection with the mouth of the inverted bottle, and a vent pipe arranged outside of the bottle, connected to said conduit and extending upwardly therefrom.

9. An apparatus for cooling and dispensing liquid comprising a refrigerating chamber, a bottle removably supported in' -inverted position thereon, a closed. conduit in said chamber having a discharge outlet at one end outside of said chamber, and having a detachable tight connection at its inlet end with the muth of the inverted bottle, and a .pipe arranged exteriorly of the bottle and opening into said conduit for supplying air to said inverted bottle as the. liquid is withdrawn therefrom, .the outer inlet end of said air supply pipe rising above the mouth of the bottle suiiiciently to counterbalance the column oliquid therein. y

10. An apparatus for cooling and dispensing li uidscomprising a refrigerating chamber, a ottle removably supported in inverted position thereon, a closed conduit within said chamber having a faucet at its discharge end and a detachable tight connection with the mouth 'of the bottle at itsl inlet end, and a pipe for supplpingair to the bottle as the liquid is with rawn, said air supply pipe opening into said conduit adjacent the inlet end thereof and extending upwardly outside of said bottle to a point above its mouth.

11. A liquid coolmg and dispensing apparatus comprising a refri erating chamber having means for remove ly supporting a 'bottle in inverted (positionthereon, a closed conduit within sai chamber having an inlet end at the upper portion of the chamber adapted to form a tight connection with the mouth of the `inverted bottle, the discharge end of said conduit extending through the saines side wall` of said chamber and having an external faucet, and a pipe for supplying air to the inverted bottle as the liquid is withdrawn therefrom, said pipe opening into said conduit adjacent the inlet end thereof, extending laterally therefrom and thence upwardly, the inlet end of said air supply pipe being above the inlet end of said conduit.

12. A liquid cooling andV dispensing apparatus comprising a refrigerating chamber having means for supporting a bottle in inverted position thereon, a conduit within said chamber having an inlet end extending through the top of said chamber, and means for forming a tight connection between the end' of said conduit and the mouth of the inverted bottle, the top of said chamber having a cup surrounding the inlet end of said conduit with an opening leading from said cup to the interior of said chamber.

v 13. An apparatus for cooling and dispensing liquid comprising a refrigerating chamber, a tubular standard rising from said chamber for supporting a bottle in inverted position thereon, a closed conduit within said chamber having its inlet end openin through the top of the chamber and adapted to form a detachable tight connection with the mouth of the inverted bottle, and a pipe for supplying air to the inverted bottle as the liquid is withdrawn therefrom, said pi e openinginto said conduit adjacent its 1n et end, extending laterally therefrom and thence upwardly into said tubular standard.

In testimony, that I claim the foregoing as my invention l aiiix my signature in the presence of two witnesses, this 11th day of December, A. D. 1908.

WILlLllAM H. WALTER.

Witnesses:

Gronau R. WILKINs, G. JT. Baron. 

